loody work
already, it seems; and not without some loss to your own party."

"Yes, there they lie," returned Bacon. "God rest their brave souls! But
being dead, they yet speak--speak to us to avenge their death on the
bloody savages who have slaughtered them, and to proclaim the insane
policy of Berkeley in delaying our march against the foe. But what make
you from Jamestown?"

"Bad news or good, General, as you choose to take it," replied Lawrence.
"Berkeley has dissolved the Assembly in a rage, because they supported
you in your demand of yesterday, and has himself, with his crouching
minions, retired to Gloucester."

"To Gloucester!" cried Bacon. "That is indeed news. But what can the old
dotard mean by such a movement?"

"He has already made known his reasons," returned Lawrence. "He has
cancelled your commission, and proclaimed you, and all engaged with you,
as rebels and traitors."

"Why, this is infamous!" said Bacon. "Is the old knave such an enemy to
truth that it cannot live upon his lips for one short day? And who,
pray, is rash enough to uphold him in his despotism, or base enough to
screen him in his infamy?"

"It was whispered as we left," said Drummond, "that a certain Colonel
Henry Temple had avouched the loyalty of Gloucester, and prevailed upon
the Governor to make his house his castle, during what he is pleased to
term this unhappy rebellion."

"And by my soul," said Bacon, fiercely, "I will teach this certain
Colonel Henry Temple the hazard that he runs in thus abetting tyranny
and villainy. If he would not have his house beat down over his ears, he
were wise to withdraw his aid and support; else, if his house be a
castle at all, it is like to be a castle in Spain."

Hansford, who was an eager listener, as we may suppose, to the foregoing
conversation, was alarmed at this determination of his impulsive leader.
He knew too well the obstinate loyalty of Temple to doubt that he would
resist at every hazard, rather than deliver his noble guest into the
hands of his enemies. He felt assured, too, that if the report were
true, Virginia had accompanied her father to Gloucester, and his very
soul revolted at the idea of her being subjected to the disagreeable
results which would flow from an attack upon Windsor Hall. The only
chance of avoiding the difficulty, was to offer his own mediation, and
in the event, which he foresaw, of Colonel Temple refusing to come to
terms, he trusted that there was a